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Rabat – Member of Independence Party (PI) and President of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab’s Regional Council, Ynja Khattat, affirmed on November 16 in Abu Dhabi that Morocco’s southern region has the potential to be a leading regional economic hub.
Speaking at the first session of the Investment Forum “Dakhla-Laayoune-Abu Dhabi,” held under the theme “Invest for Tomorrow,” Khattat stated that key to the Morocco’s southern provinces’ attractiveness are Morocco’s new Development Model (NDM) and the region’s geographical location at the gates of sub-Saharan Africa.
He also stressed that the Dakhla-Laayoune region experienced an economic and urban renaissance led by the late King Hassan II, and that the region has continued to flourish under the New Development Model (NDM) launched by King Mohammed VI.
A budget of MAD 77 billion (approximately $8.3 billion) has been allocated to the NDM, aiming to give the southern regions the necessary tools to lead Morocco’s development process.
Khattat recalled the many development projects established in Dakhla-Laayoune region such as the Tiznit-Dakhla highway, the Dakhla Atlantic port, airports, and renewable energies projects.
The increased number of projects in the region “makes it one of the best investment destinations in the Kingdom, and a major commercial platform,” he added.
Khattat also noted that the presence of a delegation from Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab in Abu Dhabi aims to highlight to Emirati businessmen the region’s abundant economic potentialities and investment opportunities.
The region’s attractive business climate, especially in the maritime fishing sector, agriculture, sustainable tourism, and logistics attracted various foreign investors in recent years.
Read also: Morocco’s Investment in the South and What it Means for the Region’s Future
The “Dakhla-Laayoune-Abu Dhabi” forum is organized within the framework of the long-existing diplomatic ties and cooperation between Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
The forum aims to broaden the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries to include regions and cities from the Western Sahara region.
Several important Moroccan delegates attended the forum, particularly representatives of the elected councils of the two southern regions, as well as a number of officials and businessmen.
On the Emirati side, a plethora of Emirati officials, economic actors, and representatives of the private sector from major investment companies also attend the forum to explore investment opportunities in Morocco’s southern regions.
The two-day forum sought to promote the development of Morocco and the UAE to further reinforce economic relations between the two nations.
The Moroccan delegation’s mission was to provide the necessary information to Emirati investors and economic actors wishing to relocate their companies and strengthen their business partnerships in Dakhla-Laayoune regions.
The forum included interactive discussion seminars and meetings between Emirati and Moroccan businessmen to discuss prospects for bilateral cooperation and partnerships in various economic sectors, including tourism, fisheries, renewable energy, manufacturing, technology, science, and sustainable agriculture.
